Going Up the Coast to Cairns

We departed Townsville this morning for Ingham, having stopped along the way for a beautiful taste of tropical ice creams. It is getting noticeably more humid as we get deeper into the tropical rainforest. We are now in sugar cane country and today had a look at the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere (5 km) which conveys the sugar from the mill to the receiving ships. A beautiful beach area that once again has warning signs of crocodiles. Tonight we join the Ingham Rotary clubs for a BBQ. We have enjoyed many of these Aussie traditions during our stay. Tomorrow we head north to Tully and Mission Beach. Got to go, the BBQ is heating up.

Paradise found!! Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island Just Pulls You In!

As usual, the Rotarians who greeted us on 'Maggie Island' were extremely hospitable and treated us to a BBQ of chicken, steak, sausages, lots of salads, beer, and wine.

Later on in the evening we slipped away to an open air bar on the beach where we danced, drank, star gazed, and fell in love . . . with the island.

Our entire team returned with big smiles after a cruise around the island with John and Annette on their 58' catamaran.  Our one and only stop was in Florence Bay where we snorkeled and had a delicious lunch of cold ham, chicken, salad, and prawns.  Chad managed to assume the captains position at the helm to guide us through the shallows and reefs while everyone else lazed around and worked on their tans and snapped pictures.  There are lots of pictures to follow and more detailed updates about our time in Townsville.